Julie Schwietert Collazo—Immigrant Families Together

Julie Schwietert Collazo is the co-founder and director of Immigrant Families Together (IFT), an organization founded in response to the zero tolerance immigration policy initiated in 2018 that has resulted in the separation of thousands of immigrant parents and their children at the U.S./Mexico border. She brings her background as a bilingual journalist and former social worker to bear on her work with IFT, which raised more than a million dollars in just over six months, posting bond for more than 73 detained parents, grandparents, and older siblings who were separated from children. The ongoing work of IFT involves providing support to these families— housing, legal counsel, medical/dental/mental health care, and other necessities— as they proceed with their immigration cases. She is currently writing a book with one of the mothers affected by the zero tolerance policy. The book will be published in English and Spanish editions by HarperOne.

Mentioned in the episode:

The first mom bonded out Yeni González.

Art installations of bronzed baby shoes in Oregon and of audio projected from chainlink cages in **New York City (#nokidsincages) **in response to family separation and kids held in detention camps.

Julie Schwietert Collazo: Woman of Distinction and honor for Women’s History Month.

“Why Are Separated Families Told They Must Use a Tiny Georgia Travel Agency to Reunite?” in the Texas Monthly by Katy Vine

**“‘An Angel From God,’ and Border Agents Took Her: Trump’s cruel separation of immigrant families continued after he declared he was ending the practice.” **in The New York Times by Nicholas Kristof

TIffany Cabán, expected winner of the primary for District Attorney in Queens, NY

Kristen Bell